I don't "like" Barack Obama for one reason: his total lack of experience/paper-thin resume. That's it. I harbor no racism, no secret desire to be a NeoCon, no closeted animosity toward the Liberal side of our party nor any desire to see another four years of Bush...none of those.

The crisis in Georgia is a prime example of a proper response to the Russians. Obama first urged both sides to "work things out", later changing his position to warning Russia to stop its aggression. McCain, to his credit, issued a strong condemnation of Russia's perfidy immediately. Experience made McCain appear to be a stronger leader and more in-touch with the realities of the world situation than Obama. The positive aspects of an Obama Presidency are, unfortunately, overshadowed by the unease I feel about Obama being a weak and untested President.

It will be Obama's task to make those of us who question his credentials feel secure and "safe" about voting for him...skin color, middle name and parentage being absolutely a non-issue.

So...what did anyone expect from John Edwards or any other candidate for office?

The American electorate projects an unrealistic persona on every man and woman who runs for office, making them into a combo of Jesus, Michelangelo and Ronald Reagan/John Kennedy. Then, they're alternately surprised and horrified when that candidate turns out to be human with all the frailties and short-comings attendant.

As long as the average voter has such unrealistic expectations of the men and women who run for office, then the longer we'll be subjected to Shapiroesque screeds expressing surprise, amazement and disappointment. Candidates are, after all, human; their fitness for office should be based on their intelligence, grasp of the world situation and plan for America's survival.

I don't care who they worship, if at all. I don't care who they're screwing, actually or metaphorically. I don't care a whit about their race, ethnicity or background. I do care, however, how they will do their respective jobs in office. Period.

While the average American should be focused on the abilities of each candidate, they're instead focused on the "National Enquirer", "People" magazine and the latest bleatings from the chattering class.

No wonder we can't seem to get a better class of candidate; we're stuck with those who can't be themselves because they're too busy trying to be the person we want them to be.

>>sigh<< Joe, it gets old hearing the same old same old that "Hillary's legitimate participation at the convention will cause Obama to lose". It seems, to you, at least, that no matter WHAT she and/or her supporters do...or fail to do...Obama is a goner! Tiring, Joe...tiring...and, dead wrong!

Obama failed to put away the nomination with many Democrats after Super Tuesday in a host of big and important states. They preferred Hillary to him for a variety or reasons. Obama continues to sputter against McCain with the same people who voted for Hillary. That's not her fault...it's his!

Its patently obvious that the Obama supporters are already casting blame at Hillary for their candidate's seeming lack of ability to "close the deal" with many core Dems.

If/when Obama loses, I can just hear the whines of the Obama faithful: "It's all Hillary's fault!" You, Joe, are just the latest to posit that tired whine-line.

Pure bullshit, sir...pure bullshit.

As someone who has worked with Rachel Maddow professionally, please let me add my congrats to a woman who deserves every accolade given her. She is, in person, exactly what she is on-air: genuine, articulate, engaging, devastatingly intelligent and as charming as they come.

As with another person with whom I have worked professionally years ago...Ellen Degeneres...Rachel is becoming/has become "mainstream" in that they both remain who and what they are, but, manage to retain their own individual uniqueness.

America is growing up; broad acceptance of two high-profile and unapologetically-gay women proves that the cream is rising to the top! May they both continue to engage the public on many levels for years to come.

I understand why McCain might pick Romney as his VP: Romney is closer to the Religious Right than McCain (even though the far Right in the Republican party think Mormonism isn't really "Christian"), Romney has economic experience as a governor and businessman, Romney has espoused the anti-abortion/anti-gay mantra of the Right (yes, I know; he's flip-flopped on both issues) and Romney looks good on television.

As to whether or not Romney will help McCain make inroads with Republicans, Independents and Democrats-not-enamoured-with-Obama, that remains to be seen. But, it is a smart choice for McCain, imho.

With the Democratic convention barely hours away, articles such as this one continue to make the case that Obama hasn't put this one squarely in the win column yet. The fact remains that he may NEVER put it away, either.

Whether Hillaryites (of whom I am one), PUMA's, Independents, or whoever else might still be unsold on Obama, the fact is that Obama continues to struggle selling himself and his candidacy to many people/groups. Calls for Obama to be un-Kerrylike, un-Clintonlike, et al, sound empty, bereft of reason and desperate.

I remain unsold on Obama; I still have a nagging doubt about his experience and his effectiveness should he win. However, since I actively supported John Kerry and liked what he stood for, I find admonitions for Obama to be un-Kerrylike to ring hollow.

Would that Obama engender as much hope with voters as Kerry did.

With the "creative" naming of black children, it certainly does make it easier to ascertain the race of shooting victims and perpetrators in Philly, New York or Cleveland newspapers and in radio or TV newscasts: "The dead included Shantay Shabazz, Laquanda Haffiz and Shariqq Al-Malik. The shooter was identified as Jacquanelle Chantayne." One can be fairly certain that no whites were involved.

If black parents continue to name their children those and similar names, the effect is the same: their children are marginalized into the ghetto of "black-named babies".

While it may satisfy some deep psychological need to be "unique", the uniqueness has long since been eliminated by the over-use of those once unique names. Perhaps even MORE outre names will now spring up...God forbid!